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Netflix debunks ‘Stranger Things’ theory claiming secret episode 9 exists

Netflix has confirmed ‘Stranger Things’ season five ended with episode eight, debunking the viral episode 9 theory

Pop Culture & Art January 07, 2026 1 min read

-Netflix.

Netflix has officially debunked a viral fan theory claiming there was a secret ninth episode of Stranger Things set to release on January 7, 2026. The theory, known as ‘Conformity Gate’, suggested the finale of season five, released on New Year’s Eve, was a trick Vecna played on Mike’s mind. Fans speculated that the series had one final hidden episode that would completely change the ending.

The official Stranger Things accounts have repeatedly stated that all episodes are now available, but the theory persisted because Netflix teased a #WhatsNext video scheduled for January 7. Some viewers pointed to details in the series, including recurring references to the number seven and the final dice roll in the Dungeons and Dragons game, as evidence of a secret continuation.

The #WhatsNext video, however, included announcements for other Netflix projects such as One Piece and the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, with only a brief cameo from Millie Bobby Brown. There was no mention of an additional Stranger Things episode, effectively disproving Conformity Gate.

While the season five finale wrapped the main storyline, Stranger Things is not entirely over. Netflix has confirmed that a spin-off is in development. This project will explore a different timeline with new characters and will focus on the mysterious space rock discovered by Henry Creel. It will not follow familiar characters like Hopper or Holly Wheeler, which clarifies that the spin-off is a separate story rather than a continuation of the main episodes.

Some fans have speculated that Netflix might release a filmed adaptation of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel stage production exploring Henry Creel’s transformation into Vecna. This would answer lingering questions from season five but would not constitute a secret ninth episode.

The debunking of ‘Conformity Gate’ confirms that season five concluded with episode eight, and fans should temper expectations for any hidden content. While the spin-off and prequel projects promise additional stories from the Stranger Things universe, the main series has reached its intended conclusion.